We like to tell ourselves that design is about function. That as long as something works, aesthetics are just a nice-to-have, maybe even a luxury, or an afterthought. call it optional.
But here’s the truth: design isn’t just how something looks. It’s how it feels, how it works, how it communicates itself to the world.
Great design doesn’t just make something beautiful, it makes it intuitive, powerful, and memorable. It’s why you can tell a Ferrari from a distance, why an iPhone just makes sense in your hand, and why a well-crafted product feels alive long before you’ve even turned it on.
And yet, design is often treated as a secondary concern. Whether in architecture, technology, or everyday objects, function gets all the glory, while aesthetics are seen as decoration.
But the best designs don’t separate the two.
Form vs. Function, and why not both?
The phrase “form follows function” comes from architect Louis Sullivan, who argued that design should be dictated by purpose. If a building is meant to be an office, it should look and feel like one, no unnecessary decoration, no excess.
It’s a great principle until it’s taken too far.
Because when function becomes the only focus, we end up with brutalist buildings no one wants to walk into, products that feel like spreadsheets, and interfaces that demand a user manual.
Think about:
• The original iPod. It wasn’t just an MP3 player, it was a tactile experience. The scroll wheel wasn’t necessary for function, but it made using the device feel effortless.
• Tesla’s Cybertruck. The sharp, angular design is as much a statement as it is a structural choice. It tells a story before you even step inside. (altho mocked right now)
• The Fender Stratocaster. It could have been just a guitar but its curves, balance, and sleek aesthetic made it an icon.
Design isn’t just about function, it’s about how something makes you feel.
Why Aesthetics Matter in Everyday Life
We interact with design constantly often without realizing it. The layout of your city streets, your phone screen, your coffee cup each of these is shaped by thousands of micro-decisions in form and function. (ie, Starbucks marketing strategy)
Good design makes things easier, more intuitive, and more enjoyable. Bad design? It frustrates, confuses, and often goes unnoticed until it fails spectacularly.
• Apple’s Magic Mouse (bad design). Looks sleek, but you have to flip it upside down to charge it, making it completely useless in the process.
• The Aeron Chair (good design). A masterpiece of ergonomics and aesthetics, it feels just as good as it looks.
• NYC Subway signage (good design, eventually). The 1970s revamp by Massimo Vignelli made navigating an infamously chaotic system effortless.
When design is done well, you don’t even notice it. But when it’s bad, it’s all you can think about.
The Psychological Power of Aesthetics
Design isn’t just about looks, it’s about perception, emotion, and cognition.
There’s a reason why round objects feel friendlier than sharp ones, why symmetry is inherently pleasing, and why certain colors trigger specific emotions. These aren’t random they’re deeply wired into human psychology.
Consider:
• The Mere Exposure Effect. The more we see something, the more we like it. Good design takes advantage of this by making interfaces instantly familiar.
• Color Psychology. Red makes us alert, blue makes us calm, green makes us trust. This is why social media icons are almost always blue (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn).
• The Golden Ratio. Found in everything from the Parthenon to the Mona Lisa, this mathematical proportion just feels right to the human eye.
Good design isn’t just random beauty, it taps into these subconscious triggers to create products, spaces, and experiences that feel intuitive and natural.
The Future of Design: Merging Digital & Physical
As we move deeper into a digital-first world, design isn’t just about physical objects anymore it’s about interfaces, experiences, and interactions.
• Spatial Computing. Apple’s Vision Pro is blurring the line between digital and physical design, forcing us to rethink how interfaces work in 3D space.
• AI-Generated Design. Tools like Midjourney and DALL·E are making it easier than ever to generate beautiful visuals, but they still struggle with functional usability.
• Minimalist vs. Maximalist Interfaces. Companies are debating whether the future of UI should be hyper-simplified(like Tesla’s dashboards) or rich and layered (like some gaming interfaces).
No matter where design is heading, one thing remains constant: aesthetics aren’t an afterthought. They shape how we experience the world.
Final Thought: Design is What You Remember
We forget bad design because we don’t want to experience it again.
We remember great design because it leaves a mark on us whether it’s a perfectly balanced car, a seamless software experience, or the way a product feels in our hands.
So the next time someone says “design is just aesthetics”, remind them:
Aesthetics aren’t decoration. They’re how we experience the world.
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